Take It to the Limit (Norman Connors album)

Take It to the Limit
Studio album by
Norman Connors
Released1980 (1980)
Genre
  • Soul
  • R&B
Length32:55
LabelArista
Producer
  • Norman Connors
  • Jean Carn
  • Gerald Roberts
Norman Connors chronology
Invitation
(1979) 		Take It to the Limit
(1980) 		Mr. C
(1981)
Singles from Take It to the Limit
  1. "Take It to the Limit"
    Released: 1980
  2. "Melancholy Fire"
    Released: 1980

Take It to the Limit is the tenth studio album by American musician Norman Connors, released in 1980 on Arista Records.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Andy Kellman of AllMusic cited that the singles from Take It to the Limit rightfully deserved their modest success. He continued, "...but a small clutch of other gems deserved similar achievements. "I Don't Need Nobody Else," sung by Al Johnson, sparkles brightly, while Adaritha's "Justify" is just as gorgeous as the album's hit singles. One minor disappointment is Leon Ware's set-closing "Everywhere Inside of Me," which falls toward the sappy side. One major dud is a plonking cover of Steely Dan's "Black Cow", which has inexplicably shown up on a number of Connors anthologies. Six out of eight ain't bad by any stretch."

Chart performance

The album peaked at number 145 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and number 30 on the Billboard Top Soul LPs chart.[2] The singles from the album "Take It To The Limit" and "Melancholy Fire" charted and peaked at number 28 and number 20, respectively, on the Billboard R&B chart.[3]

Track listing

Side one

1. Take It to the Limit Lead vocals: Adaritha Writer: Phyllis St. James 3:44
2. Melancholy Fire Lead vocals – Glenn Jones Writer: David DeMarco 3:57
3. You've Been on my Mind Lead vocals – Adaritha Writer: Shelby Flint 4:20
4. I Don't Need Nobody Else Lead vocals and backing vocals: Al Johnson Writer: Lou Courtney 3:49

Side Two

5. Justify Vocals: Adaritha Writer: David Lasley 3:47
6. Black Cow Flugelhorn: Freddie Hubbard Writers: Donald Fagen, Walter Becker 4:55
7. You Bring Me Joy Lead Vocals: Adaritha Writer: David Lasley 3:35
8. Everywhere Inside Of Me Lead vocals and backing vocals: Leon Ware Writer: Leon Ware 4:48

2013 remaster bonus tracks

9. Melancholy – 7" 3:51
10. Take It to the Limit – 12" 4:19
11. Take It to the Limit – 7" 3:35

Charts

Chart (1980) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[4] 145
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[5] 30

Personnel

[6] The album features several guest musical acts courtesy of their respective record labels.

Columbia Records: Adaritha – vocals, Al Johnson – arrangements & vocals, Freddie Hubbard – flugelhorn and Starship Orchestra – instrumentation

Philadelphia International Records: Jean Carn, The Jones Girls – vocals

Savoy Records: Glenn Jones – vocals

Elektra / Asylum Records: Leon Ware – vocals

Other musicians

  • Norman Connors – drums, percussion, vocals
  • Alex Brown, Eric Butler, Gwen Matthews, Jim Gilstrap, Marlene Jeter, Vanetta Fields – backing vocals
  • David T. Walker, Marlo Henderson – guitar
  • Billy McCoy, Bobby Lyles, Sonny Burke – keyboard
  • Nathan East, Byron Miller – bass
  • James Gadson – drums
  • Myungo, Paulinho Da Costa – percussion
  • Dorothy Ashby – harp
  • Allen Robinson, Sidney Muldrow – French Horn
  • Don Myrick, John Kip, Ralph Jones, Bill Green – Saxophone
  • Gary Bartz – soprano saxophone, soloist
  • Buzzy Jones – tenor saxophone
  • Garnet Brown, George Bohanon – trombone
  • Bobby Bryant, Eric Butler, Nolan Smith, Oscar Brashear – trumpet

Production

  • Ron Averez, Jackson Schwartz – engineer
  • Norman Connors, Jean Carn, Gerald Roberts – producer
  • John Golden – mastering
  • Tony Barboza, Garry Gross – photography
  • Donn Davenport – art direction
  • Norman Connors – director
  • Harry Bluestone – concertmaster (strings)
  • Ben Barrett – contractor (strings)
  • George Bohanon – contractor (horns)

References

  1. ^ Kellman, Andy. Review of Take It to the Limit at AllMusic. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  2. ^ "Norman Connors". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  3. ^ "Norman Connors Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  4. ^ "Norman Connors Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  5. ^ "Norman Connors Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  6. ^ "Take It to the Limit – Norman Connors | Credits | AllMusic".